BOYNTON BEACH – Police have arrested 16 people following a year-long investigation targeting drug dealers in the City of Boynton Beach.
More arrests are expected as a result of Operation Cherry Pill, an investigation focused on curbing the opiate-induced overdoses that have overwhelmed the city over the past two years.
Police arrested 10 men during a sweep today throughout Palm Beach County that also resulted in the seizure of $1,240 cash, two handguns and dozens of plastic bags of heroin, cocaine, crack and marijuana.
Three other men were arrested in September and October. Federal authorities secured the indictment of three additional men who were taken into custody earlier this month. During those arrests, authorities also seized $21,813 cash, 15 cell phones, and 729 grams of drugs, to include suspected heroin, suspected cocaine and suspected Percocet.
“Lives were saved today,” Boynton Beach Police Chief Jeffrey S. Katz said. “Addiction is a public health crisis which has a law enforcement component. Today, we and our law enforcement partners reinforce our resolve to address the supply side of this issue. I encourage other community stakeholders to continue addressing the demand component.”
The joint investigation was conducted by the Boynton Beach Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration West Palm Beach District Office, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Delray Beach Police Department and Lantana Police Department.
Since January of this year, there have been 542 drug overdoses, 56 of which resulted in death. In 2016, there were 433 drug overdoses, 35 of which resulted in death.
The following individuals have been charged as a result of Operation Cherry Pill:
Kunta Riddick – 2/20/77 – Trafficking in heroin – arrested on Sept. 10, 2017
Kelcey Riddick – 2/20/77 – Trafficking in heroin – arrested on Sept. 18, 2017
Arnold Sims – 8/25/61 – Possession of heroin – arrested on Oct. 6, 2017
Derriel Wallace – 8/8/95 – Possession of heroin with intent within 1,000 feet of store, possession of cocaine with intent within 1,000 feet of a store, possession of a firearm during a felony – arrested today
Shadrick Lee – 5/5/64 – Sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school and business – arrested today
Jaden Miraj – 1/12/99 – Sale of Heroin – arrested today
Terrence Wilkins – 8/16/91 – Possession of heroin with intent to sell, carrying a concealed firearm – arrested today
Corey Floyd – 1/5/78 – Sale of heroin within 1,000 feet of a business, Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, sale of carfentanil within 1,000 feet of a church – arrested today
Billy Rollerson – 9/3/90 – Sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school or business – arrested today
Keyon Mack – Trafficking in heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to sell 1,000 feet of a business – arrested today
Cedric Petty – 10/20/80 – Resisting an officer without violence – arrested today
Melvin Hall – 2/10/78 – Possession of marijuana under 20 grams – arrested today
Sherwick Jonas – 1/19/79 – Possession of marijuana under 20 grams – arrested today
FEDERAL CHARGES
Lorenzo Edmonds – 9/14/75 – Distribution of a controlled substance, that is, heroin and carfentanil (fentanyl analogue), in violation of 21 USC 841(a)(1) – arrested Nov. 7, 2017
Bryan Preston Todd – 12/17/75 – Knowingly and willfully conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance in violation of 21 USC 841(a)(1), that is fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and heroin. Knowingly and intentionally possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, that is heroin and fentanyl. – arrested Nov. 7, 2017
Taje Bannister – 10/20/93 – Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, that is, heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in violation of 21 USC 846. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 USC 924(c)(1)(A). – arrested Nov. 7, 2017.
